When reports surfaced that Bill O’Brien would interview with NFL teams, an accompanying ESPN storyline suggested that the coach thought Penn State had misled him regarding the potential for NCAA sanctions. O’Brien sought to clarify his position Monday.

The Penn State coach said that, when he first interviewed for the job, no one really knew how the NCAA might proceed with regard to the university’s role in the Jerry Sandusky scandal. O’Brien said that he asked many questions during his interviews about the NCAA. The coach said that, at the time, Penn State was preparing to respond to a letter from the NCAA concerning the university’s handling of allegations against Sandusky.

Ultimately, the NCAA imposed a four-year bowl ban and recruiting sanctions last July, six months after O’Brien was hired. O’Brien said he didn’t feel misled.

“It wasn’t anybody that gave me bad information,” the coach said. “It was just, nobody really knew, and so I took somewhat of a leap of faith. Penn State took a leap of faith, and I shook their hand and became the head football coach here, and that’s exactly what happened.”

PENN STATE OUT OF THE “WAR ZONE:” David Joyner, Penn State’s acting athletic director, said Penn State is emerging from the “war zone” of the last year.

Joyner said Penn State spent much of 2012 in “crisis mode” as it responded to the Sandusky scandal and ensuing NCAA sanctions. The athletic department now is “rebuilding,” Joyner said.

“For over a year, this was a war zone, and you can’t imagine, everywhere in this university, the things that were going on,” Joyner said. “So you’re in crisis control, crisis mode, you’re trying to keep the ship from not sinking. Now, we’re in a building mode. The war is not over, but we’re in an occupation, if you will.”

Joyner added that he does not expect the NCAA to reduce the sanctions. Neither Joyner nor O’Brien would comment on Gov. Corbett’s federal anti-trust suit against the NCAA.

“I mean, I always hope that a god bomb falls out of the sky,” Joyner said. “One of my friends said that’s a real happy thing to have happen to you. Who knows? The NCAA said this is the way it is, and we’re going to live under that box. I’ve said, ‘If you put us under a cage, we’re going to be cage fighters.’ So we’re going to fight within that cage that we have. If something happens down the road, so be it. But we’re not going to plan our lives around it.”

FOOTBALL NOTES: Running back Curtis Dukes will not return for his final season of eligibility, O’Brien said. Dukes, who would have been a redshirt senior, carried the ball 26 times for 98 yards last season. … Seven players began classes Monday, including tight end Adam Breneman and three new quarterbacks. All will be eligible to participate in spring drills. … One of those quarterbacks is Tyler Ferguson, who played last season at the College of the Sequoias in California. O’Brien called Ferguson, a 6-5 pro-style quarterback, “smart and productive.” Ferguson is on scholarship. … Defensive end Deion Barnes was named a freshman all-American by the Football Writers Association of America.